Delivery vehicle



" Feb. 28, 1933. I E, AURgR ET DELIVERY VEHICLE Filed Au 1} 1929 3 Sheets-Sheet l in .r

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Feb. 28, 1933. R MAURER L' 1,899,205

DELIVERY VEHICLE Filed Aug. 1, 1929 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 mvzm-ons 1" Jaw/7? 7F Nearer Idnazd /'(.J27zwm Wm 14 M wn w" I W ATTORfdEi'? 1933- E. R. MAURER ETAL DELIVERY VEHICLE Filed Aug. 1, 1929" 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 BY IWMZJ flffzyasm Patented Feb. as, 1933 UNI aosrar QF mE J mm '2; era-mam,- noxann ni-rnaensox; or Brown nan 1110mm, assrenoaa av assmnm'raro con-rmnn'raL-mvoo coxrm, or person; inc-mean, a communes-or KIGHIGAI namvnar vnmcm Application ma men, use; Serial-lie. "sa g This invention relates to motorvehicles designed to be used as delivery cars and more particularly for houseito house routedeliveries such' as milk routes. a r s It is one of the primary objects of this insvention-to obtain a construction of motor ve-' hicles which whileconforming to standard practice in many details of its construction,

is so modified as topermit the operator, to control thevehicle from a standin position upon either side-thereof adjacent. v e-load.

Another object of this invention is to provide platforms upon opposite sides ofthe ye hicle depressed tosubstantially curb level v and located, within the boundaries of the vehicle bod so that maximum weather protec-' tion is a orded the operator when standing on either platform.

A' further object of this invention is to .pro-

vide a delivery vehicle bod v with a stora" compartment having a wi thsubstantial y equal to the tread of the vehicle so as to r-. vide maximumstorage space for the loa With the foregoing as well as other objects in view, the invention consists in the various features a of construction as hereafter set "forth.

.In the drawings: I Figure 1 is a perspective tion. Fi

e 2 is a side elevational view of the vehic e chassis.

Figure 3 is a top plan viewof the construc tion shown inFigureQ; and p V Fi re 4 is a sectional view taken transverse y through the vehiclebody. f p

Generally described, our improvement com rises a chassisincluding an internal com ustion engine with a chan speed transmission, a ropeller shaft an driving axle together with the usual controls therefor. Q t.

The engine is preferably of the vertical. multicylindertype, and the transmisi'on is preferably of t e selective gear type. The

orego' 7 arts may be of. any suitable design. e ave, however, departed from the usual notice by rearrang ng. the vehiclecontro so that the latter maybe convenview of a vehicle 7 constructed in accordance Wlth this mveniently actuated from a standing position-on this result, weprovide two sets of gear shiftv ing, brake and clutch "operating controls located abovefthe platforms depending from opposite sides of the chassis. We further providea steering mast arranged centrallyof the vehicle and in ali ment with-the forms so as to be readi y'reached from either of the platforms; The steering mast is rockable in'a transverse plane and is so connected withthe steering mechanism that the vehicle will be turnedinthe direction in which the lever is; rocked.

The depressed platforms as hereinbefore stated are within the boundaries of the -.vehicle body so that the doors for closing the openings provided-above the platforms may be closed to'protect'the-operator from the weather while he is driving the vehicle from either'platform. Arranged in rear of the door vopenings is the storage compartment having a width'suflicient to receive at least 4 transverse rowsof cases. Thus the general arrangement is such that a large portion of the load can be reached by the operator from a standing position upon either of the plat formsgand he may also find access to the load through the rear doors of the body .which'extend substantially the entire width of the storage compartment.

, y In detail as s pecifically shown in the drawings 10' are; theside sills of the chassis frame which extend horizontally from end to end.

11 are horizontally extending cross bars connectin" the sillslO in front, in rear and at interm iate points; 12 is a radiator mounted above the forward end of the frame. 13 is aninternalcombustion engine in rear of'and spaced from the radiator, being mounted upon the frame and extending upward above the level of the side sills." 14 is a transmission preferably of the shift gear type arranged in rear ofthe engine 13. 15 is a propeller shaft between the transmission and the axle G, being preferably connected to the latter in the conventional manner.

The body 16 of the vehicle is mounted u n the side sills 10 and as previously descri ed, is provided with rear doors 17 and side doors either side of thevehicle. For accomplishing 18 located above the platforms;19-. Thelatter, as before. stated, are depressed to substantially curb level, to provide. standing height clearance within the body and are located within the boundaries of the latter so that the. doors-gl i may'be closedto the operator from. the weather; when; he; s driving the vehicle. The portionof thebody' in rear of the side doorsis: used solelyfor; storage of the load and gtpreferahlhp of; such dimensions as to be: ex 1 corresponding dimensions of the separate:- boxes or receptacles for receiving; the articles; to be delivered. Thus, in the event the ve-' hicle is used on a milk route, the boxes. containing the milk bottles maybe arranged,

transverse and longitudinal rows and: in tiers sov as to utilize. all of. the space in; rear. of the side doors. There is also; space for atleast two boxes between the; raised seat, portions 20 positioned in rear of the platforms 19 as clearly shown in Figure 1 of' the drawings. The seat portions: 20.: are, substantially t a same dimension as the-boxes eand when not in use may be used to. support. additional boxes. Substantially all of the; boxesv in, the storage compartment are accessible: from either platform or-from therear of the-vehicle so that same, may be readily and conveniently distributed.v

Referring now more in detail to the; distribution of the vehicle controls whichrenders possible controlling the vehicle from a stand-- mg position on either of the platforms 19, it will be noted that: thesecontrols. include a air of combined cljutchandi brake operating pedals 21 and a pairof brake actuating pedals 22., One pair of each of the pedals is arran ed in a. convenient. position above the plat orms; 19 so as to permit the operatorto control the vehiclefroma standing position on either of the platforms. The pedals 21 are connectedto. the oppositeends of arock shaft 23 extendingtransversely of the vehicle and which in turn; is connected, to the clutch in, the-housing; 24= by a, link 25;. The rock shaft 23" is, also connected by means of a link 26t'o thebrakesof theivehi'cle, suffi cient lost motion being provided in; the brakes permitting operation. of. the clutch. upon initial, movementofithe and actuation ofthe brakes; upon a. hrther move ment' of the pedal. The; brake pedals 22 are connected tothe opposite ends; of? a. second rock shaft 27 arranged in juxtaposition to the rock shaft 23v andoperati vely connected? to the brakes by meansofa link 28;. Both. rock shafts arejournaled inbearings 29 secured in any suitable manner to "the side-sills 10, The transmission: 14, which is preferably of' the shiftable gear type,.i's controlled} by a rockable and slidable gear shifter 30' such as is used with the conventional type of control. The opposite ends of the shifter 30 are, universally coupled with the links 31 divisib e;

,connections are such that a rockin 30 either of the levers 32. Rotatively mounted. upon the upper ends of the levers. are: the handle portions 33 which, as shown, are-connected through. suitable linkage 34 to the carburetor of the vehicle (not shown). this arrangement, it will be ap arent that the levers 32, in addition to e ecting the ar shifting of the transmission, also are instrumental in governing the speed of the motor.

The steering of thev vehicle may also be effected from, a standing position on either of the platforms by a steering control mast 35 arranged centrally of the chassis in ali ment' with the op osite. door openings. he steeringmast 35 is fulcrumed to swing in a plane transversely to the chassis, and the movement. of: the lever in either direction will effect a turning oflthe vehicle in the direction in whichv it is rocked. In detail as shown in Figure 3,the connection of the steering mast to the ground wheelsis through a link 36 operated from the'rock shaft 37 and connected to the cross link 38'which connects the wheels to the turning arms 39.

Thus from the foregoing, it will be apparent that we have provided a vehicle with platforms upon opposite sides thereof and controls for the vehicle so arran ed with respect to the platforms as to be rea ily reached from either a standing position on the latter one sittingposition on the raised seat portions 20. hus delivery is greatly facilitated for the vehicle may bemoved from house to house while the operator is in standing position and in convenient proximity to the load. from which delivery is made. Moreover, owing to the fact that the latforms are arranged within the boundaries of the vehicle body,. maximum weather rotection isaiforded the o erator while driving the vehicle by closing t e side doors.

What we claim as our invention is:

I. A motor delivery vehicle comprising a floor at-substantiall the level of said chassis,

seat portions raise substantially above said floor arranged, in rear of each of said platforms affording additional storage space when not in use, said seat portions being spaced apart sufficiently to receive two cases on the floor therebetween, motor control devices arranged above each platform and accessible for manipulation from either 'a standing position on the a position on said seat portions, and a laterally v on either of said of low level 0 forms, gear selector rods engine at the forward end of said chassis,

a body on said chassis having the forward end thereof at the rear of said engine, said body groiecting laterally beyond said side sills and avmg opposite side door openings, a pair rati platforms within the boundaries 0 said y and outside the boundaries of said side si Is, a laterally rockable steering mast projecting upwardly from said chassis betweensaid from each of said platforms, a combined brake and clutch pedal on each of said latforms and a second brake pedal on eac of 7 said platforms said steering mast, ear selector rods and dals being operab e while standing on sai latforms.

In testimony w ereof we aflix our signa-' EDWIN R. 'MAURER.

DONALD M. FERGUSON.

platform or a sitting ivery vehicle comprisin a havmg continuous side sills operating plat projectingupwardly 

